Sound-reproducing machine.



JOHN T. PROUT, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUUND-EEPRODUCING MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented iOct. 24, 318916.

Application filed. June 10, 1915. Serial No. 33,230.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. Pnon'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Reproducing Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to machines for the reproduction of sound, commonly known as phonographs or graphophones, and its object is to provide an improved means whereby the needle commonly used in the reproducer will be caused to return to the point of starting automatically after a piece has been played.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide means by which this may be accom plished Without injuring the record or With out adding any attachment thereto.

A, further object of the invention is to" provide an automatic repeating means which is extremely simple and cheap to manufacture and efiicient in its operation.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts, hereinafter fully described, illus trated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In. the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a disk type phonograph equipped with my invention. Fi g. 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing my invention. in

place and indicating its relation to certain parts of the phonograph. Fig. 3 is a cross section o'l an elcctromagnet of the solenoid type in which the movement of the plunger is restrained giving it the effect of being equipped with a dash pot. Fig. i represents schematically a means for automatically aecomplisl'iing the purpose of my invention mcchan i ca lly.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate the correspomling parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

'lln'oughout the specification and in the drawing IV have illustrated and described my invention as applied to a disk type phonograph, but it will be understood that my invention is embodied in the broad idea and that by slight n'ioditications in the arrangementof parts the same may be adapted to cylinder type machines.

In operation the needle is placed near the outer edge of the disk and as the record re- 'volves the spiral record track gradually moves the needle toward the center of the disk. When the full sweep of the arm has been completed or in other words when the record is finished a suitable contact will be made for the purpose of energizing the returning mechanism with the result that the needle will be lifted clear of the record and set back to its starting position and so on.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a phonograph box; 2 is a record; a is the reproducer arm of the phonograph; l is the needle; 5 is the spindle upon which the record disk is placed, it being understood that as this spindle and an appropriate motor for revolving the same is common to all phonographs, only a portion of the said spindle has been shown.

6 is the returning arm; 7 is a suitable bracket in which the returning arm 6 is fulcrun'ied; integral with 6 is an extension or lever portion 8 to which is attached a suitable pull cord 9. Mounted upon lever (l is a contact button 10, which may he set at any desired point on said arm; 11 is a stop button secured to said arm (3.

In Fig. 2, 3, which represents a section of the reproducer arm is connected by means of a suitable conductor a, to a source of electrical energy 11. 12 is a suitable electromagnet, the plunger 13 of which is pivoted at ll to c, said magnet being connected with the source of energy by means of conductor 7). Plunger 13- which extends through the magnet 12, is indicated as in contact with the bottom part of the phonograph case 1. Obviously the motion of plunger 13 and consequently the downward position of the lever 6 may be fixed in any suitable mannor, the arrangen'icm'; shown however serving to prevent the lever ('3 from striking against the record 2. The other conductor 0 from the magnet 12 is connected with 10. lt-will thus be soon that when the reproduccr arm moves over so as to contact with 10, the electric circuit will be completed and consequently the magnet energized. with the result that lover (i will he moved upward causing arm 3 to slide "toward the stop 11. As the phonograph motor continues to run, it is obvious that the record will be played over again. lily reference to the drawing it will be seen that at any tiu'icwhile the record is being played a manual pull on the cord 5) will cause 6 to be raised and consotuiently 3 to he moved over to point ll, although as bowed or slightlv curved, it having been found by experience that substantially this shape tends to modify the force with which the reproducer arm is returned.

In Fig. 3, which illustrates a modification of the electromagnet 12, 15 is a spool shown in section as is also. the wire 16. 17 is the armature which as shown is provided with a shank 13 of smaller diameter. The fit 0t 13 at 19 may be so. regulated that although when the current is on, the. armature is moved upward with considerable force and 'speed, its backward movement to a normal the small air vent at 19.

In Fig. 4, 5 is the phonograph record spindle to which is added a worm 20, meshing with the worm wheel 21; 22 is a stud on the worm .wheel adapted to engage lever 23, which is fulcrumed at 24 to a suitable bracket 25. 13 is a portion of the plunger of my return mechanism. Lever 23 of which 18 is an extended part, is adapted to' push rod 13 upward when pin 22 moves the end position will be somewhat retarded due to of lever 23. By means of this mechanism, it

will be seen that I provide a mechanical scheme which works as follows: The ratio between the worm and worm wheel 20 and 21 is so calculated or the position of the pin 22 is so located that when the record has been revolved a certain number of times, equal let us assume to the playing of the same, pin 22 will be moved around so that as the playing of the record is finished lever 23 will be pushed down and consequently the spindle 13 pushed upwardl with the result that the rcpi'mlucer will be returned to its original position as previously'described.

From the above it will be clear that 1 provide a unique device for automatically repeating the playing .of a phonograph record, and as'cxplained it is also possible with this invention to repeat any )art of the record during the playing period.

lVhen it is desired to employ records of varying diameters, buttons 1Q and 11 may .be adjusted to dillerent positions on the devised for accomplishing the above general urpose, but my experience leads me to eheve that my invention provides an ex- -ceedingly simple mechanism which can be produced at very little cost.

I do not wish to be limitedto the exact arrangement shown as it is evident that certain modifications and changes can be made Without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of my invention;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: w 1. In a repeater for phonographs and the like, the combination of a sound box, a swinging arm carrying the same, a curved arm adapted to be traversed by said swinging arm, a support to which said curved arm is pivoted and magnetic means for raising the said curved arm.

2. In a repeat mechanism for phonographs, the combination of a sound repro-. duccr mounted upon a swinging hollow arm, a lever over which said swinging arm is adapted to travel pivotally connected to said phonograph, a contact member carried by the lever .and adapted to engage said swinging arm, magnetic means adapted to raise the said lever; and electrical means for causing said magnetic means to operate when said swinging arm engages said contact member.

In combination with a phonograph, a sound conveying arm mounted to swing 'horizontally, a lever below said arm and adapted to be moved in a vertical plane, stops adjustably mounted upon said lever, ma etic means for raising the lever, a source ot electrical energy for said magnetic means and means for-causing energy to flow from said source to said magnetic means when the said arm contacts with one of said stops.

JOHN T. PROUT. Witnesses:

Louis VON Kovacsir, l-luoo llmszu'ronr. 

